Manifolding machine



Feb. 10. 1925.

J. Q. SHERMAN MANIFOLDING MACHINE File y 18, 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet l M E/V702:

ATTO/ P/VfKS.

Feb. 10. 1925.

J. Q. SHERMAN v MANIFOLDING MACHINE Filed July 18, 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A 7' TOR/M6715.

Patented l 'eb. 10, 1925. UNITED A 1,525,664 PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN o. SHERMAN, or DAYTON, OHIO.-

uamronnme MACHINE.

' I Application fiIedJu'Iy 18,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN Q. Shannan,

tinuous webs of paper over a writing table or platen whereupon said webs may be imressed or marked,with copies of the same written or printed matter.

In connection with the feeding of'paper through machines of the above general character, it is' convenient to arrange the feed operating devices so that one single operation thereof will withdraw the correct amount of paper for a single set of copies. In machines employing prmted forms this is particularly true, and one of the objects of my invention is to provide a manifolding machine wherein a single operation of the feed handle will feed through the machine one complete set of forms with the additional feature that the length of form may be quickly and'easily arranged for by a simple adjustment.

Thus my objectis to produce an adjustable feed manifolding machine and it is further to provide for aligning the webs of paper during a portion of the feed, and insurlng just the correct engagement of the aligning devices which will serve to bring any desired number of webs into perfect alignment utilizing for this purpose apertures formed in like positions in thepaper.

Another object is to provide a novel method of operating one or more feed pins, which. will engage automatically in the paper and be drawn through a specially arranged path to both jog and feed the Webs" if desired. In addition to the feed pin operation I further propose to provide a paper clamping device and feed pin return which co-opera-te-to assure the correct position of the-paper at all times.

In connectlon with the feed pin operation, pa er clamp and feed pin return it is-my object to provide for adjustment at a single point to take care of not only the above three noted actions, but also the main paper 1921. Serial No. 485,421.

feeding parts, whereb the operator needs but make a single ad ustment to bring all operating parts into correct position-0f readjustment with relation to the paper and with relation to each other.

These objects and other advantages to be noted 1 accomplish bythat certain construction and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter more specifically pointed out'and claimed.

' In the drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation, artly broken away, showing the novel fee device and indicating certain portions of an autographic register body.

Figure 2 is a plan view or detail showing the feed pin carrier device.

Figure 3 is an elevational detail showing one form of feed pin in side and plan view.

Figure 4 is a like view to Figure 3 showing another form of feed pin.

Figure 5 is a detail elevation of the end of the upper pressure roll.

Figure 6 is a plan view, of the feed pin engaging fork with-a side viewprojected therefrom.

Figure 7 is an elevation of one of the feedingqsegment parts.

Figure 8 is an end elevation showing the operating parts of the feed pin folk and latch mounted complete.

' Figure 9 is a detail side and plan view of the latch forthe feed pins. ,1

Figure 10 is an end elevation showing the paper clamp and its mounting.

Figure 11 is an end elevation showing the various. adjustable ca'ins and segments for ope ating the parts ofthe feed, together Wit the adjustable feature thereof.

. Figure 12 is a plan view of the housing.

I have not shown any complete framework, of a machlne as any manifoldmg machine 1 Mounted on suitable lugs 3, on the side frame piece 4 of the machine, is the writing table 5, said Writing table, in the example' of the invention shown in the drawings, being used; as a'support for the feed pin devices. 3

The main feed shaft 6 is revolubly mounted in the side frame pieces and directly above it the lid 7 of the machine houses a roller 8 which is suitably grooved for feed pin clearance at 9. The shafts 10 and 11, mounted in brackets 12, 12, which are preferably mounted on the under side of the writing table, serve to mount the pin withdrawing and latching devices. The shaft 13, suspended in brackets 14 from the writing table, serves to mount the paper clamp devices.

Of the lid or top 7 of the casing it should be noted that the housing 15 which carries the friction roller 8 also is cut away with slots 16, 16, so as to provide clearance for the feed pin operation, said slots (Figure 12) being arranged in line with the grooves in the roller 8. Springs 17 bear on the spindle of the said roller 8 to keep it down frictionally in the preferred form of the machine and the portion of the housing surrounding the slots 16 act to hold the paper steady at the point where the pins normally bear.

First describing the feed pin operation it will be noted that plates 18, 18, are secured on the under side of the writing table and so formed as to leave their adjacent edges 19 spaced away from the table, thereby providing a slideway for a plate 20. This plate 20 is pulled rcarwardly by means of a spring 21 until it abuts against a pair of stops 21 set beneath the writing table.

At its forward edge the plate is provided with arms 22, 22, each of which carries at its end a journal 23 for the shaft of a sliding pin. These journals or housings are partly closed at the bases to house springs 24, and extending forwardly from the housings are fingers 25 which carry anti-friction rollers 26. Also extending still further forward from the rollers 26 are hooks 27.

The pins are formed with paper engaging blunt tapered points 28 and shanks 29, said shanks terminating in reduced portions 30 and heads 31. When set into the journals or housings the heads are removed and the portions 30 thrust through the springs 24, after.

which the heads are secured in place. Since the shanks fit the holes the pins may either revolve or slide in the journals.

The preferred forms of pins have small gears cut in them above the shanks as at 32, and the points 28 may either be concentric with the gears as in the example shown in -Figure 3 or eccentric, as shown in the example in Figure 4, the latter being the preferred form..

The guide plates 18, 18, which support the sliding plate 20, are extended forward and cut with rack teeth 33,'so that as the plate 20 is moved forward the pins will move along'in a horizontal path with the springs projecting them up through the writing table and also (Figure 4) will be given an oscillating movement because of the action of the teeth 32 engaging with the teeth 33.

The writing table is slotted for pin clearance but as in Figure 1 the pins, when not in actual engagement with the paper, will be held down by unpunched portions of paper lying above them on the writing table and will spring up into the holes in the paper as soon as registry therewith is established by the paper movement. As has been noted, the extensions on the friction roller housing rovide an abutment for the paper around t e bearing point of the pins.

I provide adjustable segments for contact with the friction roller 8 to accomplish the partial feed of the .paper, and means controlled from the same shaft as the segments and adjustable with them for lowering the feed pins, latching the sliding plate 20 and subsequently releasing it as well as means also controlled from said shaft for operating a paper clamp. This latter device operates just as the feed pins are withdrawn and while they are being unlatched and permitted to return to normalidle position.

The paper clamp, which I will next describe, comprises a finger or fingers 34, which are mounted. on arms 35 on the shaft 13. Ali-arm 36 on this shaft is pulled upwardly by means of a spring 37 to brin the fingers up through holes 38 in the writing table and against the paper lying thereover, thereby clamping it between the said fingers and the portion 39 ofthe cover or top of the machine.

A controlling arm 40 on this shaft has an anti-friction roller 41,011 its end which is held by the spring action on the shaft against a suitable cam (to be described) whereby the clamping position of the fingers is prevented except during desired periods of the feeding operation.

Coming next to describe the segment feed and the various controlling parts adjustable with the feed, it will be noted that on the main feed shaft 6 are an outer pair of fixed segments or if desired circular disks 42, which maintain a cont-act with the friction roller 8 and keep it from falling into a position to clamp the paper when the feeding segments have passed out of contact, although the roller could be arranged so that it cannot move far enough down to interfere.

Fixed on the shaft 6 just inside of the members 42 are a pair of fixed segments 43 which as the shaft is revolved come with their peripheries passing through slots in These segments, as

heads. 'This tubular shaft carries another pair of feeding segments 46 cut on the same are as the segments 43, which also extend through the same slots, so that dependent upon the adjustment of the tubular shaft these segments will form extended feeding eripheries to the segments 43 or will simply lie alongside of them and serve to extend a pair of forked arms 48, 48, which lie in the path of the lower ends of the feed pins, so that as the levers -17 bring the pins forwardly the depending portions thereof ride into the forks. A spring 49 pulling on an arm 50 on this shaft 10 tends to keep the shaft in a position with the abutment piece 51 in contact with the brackets 12, while a roller 52, carried on an extension of said arm 50 in another direction, lies in the path of a cam 53 carried on the tubular shaft.

\Vhen the cam 53 contacts with this roller it rocks the forks downwardly and thus pulls the feed pins down through their journals and holds them depressed until the cam has passed.

The shaft 11 on the brackets 12 carries a pair of fix 'ed hooks 54, 54, which engage the hooks 27 on the sliding plate arms, this acof the forms duly arranged.

tion being controlled by aspring 55 pulling on the upward extension of a cross arm 56 on this shaft. The lower extension of this arm lies in the path of a trip finger 57 on the tubular shaft 4%, which, when it comes into contact position during the revolution of the feed shaft, will trip the hooks 5% and permit the sliding plate to spring rearwardly to its normal position.

Thus the positioning of the tubular shaft,

- once the various cams, trip fingers, and the like, are set permanently thereon, will adjust the length of the feeding operation of the feed segments, adjust the period when the feed pins move forwardly, when they are depressed by the forks, and when they are released to spring back into normal position.

'The cam 58 on the tubular shaft is the one that controls the paper clamp device, and its adjustment also will be controlled by the movement of the tubular shaft on the feed shaft 6.

Describing the entire operation of the machine: The operator sets his webs of paper over the writing table and beneath the friction roller with a good alignment He then revolves the handle 6 of the feed shaft, after releasing it from the stop 6" and gives-it a single revolut1on. This motion will first cause the feed segments through their con'- tact with the paper under the friction roll t9 feed forward the desired amount of paper. As the feeding peripheries pass from contact position, the levers 4T engage the pin carrier just after the pins are freed to spring up into the paper due to the registered holes therein coming into position directly over the pin position. This .accomplishes a forward feeding of the paper by the pins alone, and also a jogging or os-' cillation, which shakes down the webs onto the pins in a uniform position and compensates by shifting the webs of paper on themselves for inaccuracies in alignment.

As soon as the feed pins have been i brought forward to a point when the levers 4'? will pass out of engagement the forks will pick up the pins and hold them steady while the latch device will have engaged the ends of the sliding plate arms. Then the cam device that controls the forks will rock the shaft 10 and depress the forks to withdraw the pins fronrengagement with the holes in the paper.

When this depression has taken place the cam 58 will permit the "paper clamp shaft to rock soas to bring its clamps into action against the paper, after which the trip finger on the tubular shaft will strike the latch shaft around to depress the hooks thereon from engagement with the hooks on the ends of the plate arms. The forks will prevent the pins from rising into the holes in the paper until the plate has sprung back sufiicient to clear said holes from the pins, after which the pins will rise to engagement with the under surface of the paper and will be carried thus back to their normal position ready-to spring up into another set of holes.

The completion of the single operation of the feed handle back to the stop 6* will complete a cycle, whereby the desired length web ofpaper has been fed and aligned and the alignment preserved during return of all parts. As shown in Figure l the corners of the outer feed segments at the close of the operation will have just come to a position half Way beneath the friction roller, thereby holding the paper against shifting while the machine is idle.

I have not attempted to describe or show alternative structure, mechanically alike to those described, but do not wish this to be construed as a limitation of the claims that follow, since I have endeavored merely to show an exemplification of the invention as expressed in said claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a manifolding machine, the combination with a friction feeding device for a plurality of webs of paper, of pin feeding means adapted to engage holes in the webs of paper and feed them through the machine, said means comprising a feed pin movable in the direction of feed, and simulaneously movable at angles to said direction to jog the paper, for the purpose described.

2. In a manifolding machine, the combination of friction means for feeding a plurality of webs of paper through the machine, and pin feeding means adapted to engage holes in the paper, said means comprising a feed pin, and means to move it in a path at right angles to its axis during a period of relaxation of the friction feed.

3. In a manifolding machine, the combination of friction means for feeding a plurality of webs of paper through the marotations of the feed shaft, a feed pin, means for supporting the feed pin independently of the friction feed, meanscontrolled by the shaft for operating the pin feed, a paper clamp to hold the paper against movement when neither pin nor friction feed is in operation, and common means for adjusting the timing of the pin and clamp operation together with the distance of feed of the chine, a feed pin, to engage an aperture in said webs, and a carrier for said feed pin and means to operate said carrier so as to move it in a straight line in the path of said web.

4. In a manifolding machine, the combination of friction means for feeding a plurality of webs of paper through the ma chine, of a feed pin, means for axially moving it into and withdrawing it from holes in the paper, and means for moving it through a feeding path to draw the paper through the machine during a period of relaxation of the friction feed.

5. In a manifolding machine, the combination of friction means for feeding a plurality of webs of 'paper through the machine, of a feed pin, means for axially moving it into and withdrawing it from holes in the paper, and means for moving it through a feeding path to draw the paper through the machine during a period of relaxation of the friction feed, and simultaneously moving it atangles to the-line of feed to jog the paper.

6. In a manifolding machine, the combination of friction means for feeding a plurality of webs of paper through the machine, of a feed pin, means for axially moving it into and withdrawing it from holes in the paper, and means for moving it through a feeding path to draw the paper through the machine during a period of relaxation of the friction feed, and a paper clamp to engage the paper during periods of no. feeding either by friction or by the pin. 1

7. In a manifolding machine, the combination with a feed shaft, of an adjustable friction feed for a plurality of webs of paper adapted to feed such paper a desired dis tance at one complete operation of the shaft, a feed pin, means for supporting the pin so' asto engage holes in the paper, same being independent of the friction feed, means on the feed shaft to operate the feed pin, said means having a common adjustability with the friction feed, whereby one adjustment friction feed, whereby a single adjustment accomplishes a setting of all three mechanisms for correct successive operation.

9. In a manifolding machine, a feed shaft, a friction feed and pin feed for a plurality of webs of paper, operative connection between said feeds and the shaft whereby they are successively operated from the said shaft to conjointly effectuate a feeding of a complete form from the machine, said pin feed having a feeding motion and a jogging motion, for the purpose described.

10. In a manifolding machine,'the combination with a feed shaft, of a tubular shaft adjustable thereon, a friction feed disk .having a segmental periphery andmounted on the feed shaft, another disk having a like periphery and mounted on the tubular shaft, a movable feed pin, means for supporting the pin so as to engage holes in the paper to be fed, and an operating member for said feed pin mounted on said tubular shaft, and means for adjusting the position of the tubular shaft with relation to the feed shaft, for the purpose described.

11. In a manifolding machine, the combination with a feed shaft, of another shaft co-axial therewith, a friction feed disk having a segmental periphery and mounted on the feed shaft, another disk of 'like nature mounted on the other shaft, a movable feed pin, means for supporting the pin so as to engage holes inthe paper to be fed, and an operating member for said feed pin mounted on said other shaft, and means for adjusting the position of the other shaft to the feed shaft.

. 12. In a manifolding machine, a shaft, friction feeding means on said shaft for feeding paper duringa portion of the revolution thereof, a feed pin,n1eans for supporting the pin so as to engage holes in the said paper, means on said shaft for imparting a feeding movement to said pin during other portions of the revolution of said shaft, a revoluble operating member, and means for connecting said member to said shaft in a variety of positions, for the purpose described.

paper, means on said shaft for imparting a:

13; In a manifolding machine, a shaft, friction feeding means on said shaft for feeding paper during a portion of the revolution thereof, a feed pin, means for supporting the pin so as to engage holes in the said feeding movement tosaid pin during other portions of therevolution of said shaft, a revoluble operating member, and means for connecting said member to said shaft in a variety of positions, and a feeding device for paper-operated directly from the revoluble operating member. i

14. In a manifolding machine, a friction feed, a feed pin, a paper clamp, a common operating member for all of said mechanisms to cause an operation'thereof in the .order named, said friction feedhaving a .rotary motion and said feed pin having a rectilinear motion.

15. In a manifolding machine, a friction feed, a feed pin, a paper clamp, a common operating member for all of saidmechanisms to cause an operation thereof in the orderv named, said, friction feed having a rotary motion and said feed pin having a rectilinear motion in a feeding direction, and an axial motion carrying it into and out of the paper, said common operator being adapted to. provide for proper sequence in said pin motions 16. In a manifolding machine, a friction feed, a feed pin, a paper'olamp, a common operating member for all of said mechanisms to cause an operation thereof in the order named, said friction feed having a rotary motion and said feed pin having a. rectilinear motion in a feeding direction, and an axial motion carrying it into and out of the paper, said common operator being adapted to provide for proper sequence in said pin motions, and a common adjustable member for adjusting the length of the friction feedin operation, and the relative timing of the f ced pin operations.

17. A mechanism for operating a feed pin for feeding of a web of paper, comprising in combination with the feed shaft, a reciprocating member, means for resiliently housing. a 'pin insaid member, a pindepressing member, a detent for the reciprocatingmember, and means controlled by the feed shaft for operating the said reciprocating member, depressing member, and detent.

18. A mechanism for operating-a feed pin for feeding of a web of paper, comprising inicombination with the feed shaft, a reciprocating member, means forresiliently housing a pin in said member, a pin depressing member, a detent for the reciprocating member, and meansfcontrolled by the feed shaft for operating the said reciprocating member, depressing member, and 'detent, a

paper clamp" for engaging the paper during the period of movement of the reciprocating member foliowing a depression of the pin, and means 'on the 'feedshaft for controllin said clamp.

19. n a device for feeding a plurality of webs of apertured paper having a pin, '7 means forsupporting the pin so as to engage with said apertures, means for imparting a feeding path to said pin,. means for imparting a thrusting and withdrawal motion to said pin with relation to the paper and means for causing th'e pin to travel in a wavy path during itsfeeding motion.

20. In a device of the character described, the combination with a reciprocating pin carrier, a pin carried therein, a feed shaft, connection from the feed shaft to the carrier, a pinion formed in connection with the said pin, and means for revolving the pinion and the pin during the movement of the carrier, said pin having an eccentric feeding point whereby an oscillating or wave-like motion will be imparted to the pin point during the movement of the carrier.

21 In a manifolding machine, the combination of a feed pin, means for supportv and an eccentric feeding point onsaid pin, 5

for the purpose described. 22. In a manifolding machine a revoluble feeding device havin a broken periphery,

a rollheld toward sai feeding device under tension, and means to revolve the feeding device to feed duplicate; webs of paper between it and the roll, and means independent of the feeding device and operable while the broken. portion of the periphery is turned toward the paper to align the paper webs.

23. In a manifolding machine, a revoluble feeding device having a broken periphery, a roll held toward said feeding device under tension, and means to revolve the feeding device to feed duplicatewebs of paper betwee it and-the roll andmeans independentof the feeding device'and operable while the broken portion of the periphery is 11 turned toward the paper to align the paper webs, said means comprising a pin to engage holes in the paper.

24. In a manifolding machine, a revoluble feeding device having a broken periphery, a 'roll held toward said feeding device under tension, and means to revolve the feeding device to feed duplicate webs of paper be-' tween it and the roll, and means independent of the feeding device and operable while the broken portion of the periphery is turned toward the paper to align the paper webs, said means comprising a pin having a movement independent of the feeding device to engage holes in the paper.

25. In a manifolding machine, in combination a broken periphery rotary member, a co-operative member between ,which and the broken periphery 'member' a plurality of webs of paper are fed upon contact With the unbroken periphery portions thereof, and means automatically operable to engage the paper during the remainder of the movement of the broken periphery member comprising a movable pin.

26. In a friction feed ma-nifolding machine employing form strips with pin re ceiving holes therein, a pair of co-operative rotary members for feeding said strips, one of them having a portion of its periphery removed to cause a cessation of the friction feed, and a feed pin having a feeding movement and supported so as to engage the pin holes in the paper strips and feed them during the cessation of the friction feed.

1 27. In a friction feed manifolding machine employing form strips with pin receiving holes therein, a pair of co-operative rotary members for feeding said strips, one

of them having a portion of its periphery removed to cause a cessation of the friction feed, and a feed pin having a feeding movement and means for supporting the pin so as to engage the pin holes in the paper strips and feed them during the cessation of the friction feed, said feed pin having an axial movement into the holes and a linear feeding movement. I

28. In a friction feed manifolding machine employing form strips with pin receiving holes therein, a pair of co-operative rotary members for feeding said strips, one of them having a portion of its periphery removed to cause a cessation of the friction feed, and a feed pin having a feeding movement andmeans for supporting the'pin so as to engage the pin holes in the paper strips and feed them during the cessation of the friction feed, said feed 'pin having anaxial movement into the holes and a zigzag linear movement for feeding and aligning the paper.

JOHN Q. SHERMANv 

